News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 7, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Appoints New Chair of A+ Commission

OLYMPIA – June 7, 2004 – Gov. Gary Locke today appointed David Fisher of Olympia as the new chair of the state Academic Achievement and Accountability (A+) Commission, effective June 9.

Fisher works as the Washington site manager for Intel Corporation and has been a member of the A+ Commission for four years. He also serves on the boards of the Washington Roundtable, Partnership for Learning and Tacoma Chamber of Commerce as well as the Tacoma/Pierce County Economic Development Board and the advisory board for the Washington Institute of Technology at the University of Washington – Tacoma.

Fisher replaces outgoing chair David Shaw of Pasco, who is retiring after five years on the commission – the last two as chair. Shaw is also the retired superintendent of the Pasco School District. He has served as a member of the state Higher Education Coordinating Board and former president of the Board of Trustees of Columbia Basin College.

“David Fisher has shown tremendous leadership as a member of the A+ Commission, and I am confident he is the best choice to direct the extremely important work of this commission,” Locke said. “I also want to thank David Shaw for his leadership and dedication to the continued improvement of public schools in our state, and I wish him well in his retirement.”

Fisher said, “I’m honored to follow David Shaw as chairman of the commission, especially given the important work we still must do to implement the Certificate of Academic Achievement and to ensure that students have the skills they need for success after high school.”

Locke said the commission does critical work for students, educators and school administrators in Washington state, including playing a leading role in the implementation of the Certificate of Academic Achievement. The commission is currently deliberating the required performance levels in reading, writing and mathematics necessary to attain the certificate, which will be a graduation requirement beginning with the Class of 2008. The commission’s recommendations are due to the Legislature by Nov. 30.

“I am confident that under the leadership of David Fisher the commission will appropriately affirm our high academic standards for our students and assist the education system and the Legislature in providing the support needed for student success,” Locke said.

The A+ Commission was created by the 1999 Legislature to provide oversight of the state’s K-12 educational accountability system. The nine-member commission is appointed by the governor based on nominations from the state Senate and House of Representatives and recommendations from education stakeholder groups and the public. A majority of members are parents who have, or had, children in public schools.

No decision has been made regarding Shaw’s replacement on the commission.


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